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ALASKA WILDLIFE GUIDE                                                                                                      

In a place where the wildlife is perhaps the most abundant in the US., it’s a challenge to keep track of all the different creatures and critters you’ll encounter on your voyage. So, to make it easier for you to identify and understand Alaska’s wildlife — on land or at sea — we’ve compiled this must-keep wildlife guide for you to take with you on your cruise to Alaska compliments of NCL.

IN THE SKY

		BALD EAGLE — While the bald eagle remains a threatened species in the lower 48 states, this majestic bird thrives in Alaska. Not only is this raptor big, measuring 32 to 40 inches long with a wingspan of up to seven feet, but it’s fast, reaching flight speeds between 35 and 44 miles per hour. These birds of prey eat fish, waterfowl and small mammals. And they’re not bald — look for the distinctive white head.
		LOONS —There are plenty of loons in Alaska — five species, to be exact. These “spirits of the wilderness” are a vital part of Alaska’s wilderness and are known for their distinctive yodeling call. (It’s only the male loon that sings.) Loons are fast, flying at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, and are among the best diving birds in the world, with the ability to stay underwater for more than a minute.
		PTARMIGAN — Alaska’s state bird is a true chameleon, turning white in the winter and brown in the summer to camouflage itself from predators. There are actually three species of ptarmigans in Alaska, with a population that fluctuates between superabundant to nearly nonexistent in just a few years.
ON LAND
		BROWN BEAR — What’s the difference between the brown bear and the grizzly? Brown bears are the ones you’re more likely to see on your voyage, since they live where the salmon do, along the southwestern coast and Gulf of Alaska. Grizzlies are simply brown bears that live inland. Brown bears can weigh up to 800 pounds and reach a height of up to eight feet when standing on their hind legs. And they’re fast, able to run 35 to 40 miles per hour.
		WOLF — Wolves are highly social animals, which live in packs that include parents and yearling pups. You’ve heard of the term, ‘Alpha Male.’ Well, dominance of the wolf pack is a hierarchy with a separate rank order among females and males, and the alpha male is number one among the males. It is also a little known fact that the alpha female, who is the lead female, is just as in .& control as the male. In Alaska, the territory of a pack averages 600 square miles of habitat.
		MOOSE — Did you know that moose are the largest member of the deer species? These horse—sized animals can be found throughout Alaska, along highways and even in cities like Anchorage. The adult male (the bull) can weight upwards of 1,600 pounds with antlers that typically measure four to five feet from end to end. The female (the cow) births her calves in mid—May and is highly protective of her young — so don’t get in her way.
IN THE WATER
		HUMPBACK WHALE — The humpback is one of the world’s most endangered species of whales. They’re known to surface and breech throughout the Inside Passage, Prince William Sound and Glacier Bay, and are able to stay underwater for up to 30 minutes. The humpback can live up to 95 years, and consumes between 2,000 and 9,000 pounds of fish and krill a day.
		KILLER WHALE (ORCA) —The killer whale, also known as the Orca, isn’t actually a whale at all. They’re the largest species of the dolphin family, are highly social and have established social hierarchies, with pods that range from five to 30 orcas led by females.
		SEA OTTER — The sea otter has the thickest fur in the animal kingdom and depends on air trapped in the fur to help them maintain their body temperature. A member of the weasel family, the sea otter is one of the only mammals to use tools, often relying on small rocks or other shellfish to pry prey from rocks, and hammer or pry open their food
		STELLER SEA LION — This “Lion of the Sea” earned its name because of its distinctive bellowing roar. As the largest sea lions, males can reach eleven feet in length and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. The Steller Sea Lion uses its flippers as rudders for steering, and travels up to 250 miles from home in their search for food.
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